Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA): molecular background, virulence, and relevance for public health

Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) are frequently found in nosocomial environments as the main pathogen in several infections. In 1961, reports of nosocomial S. aureus resistant to methicillin, the drug of choice against penicillin-resistant strains, required new alternatives and vancomycin started being used to treat infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) was first reported in 1990 affecting patients without risk factors for infection with MRSA of hospital origin. MRSA of community origin harbor the genes responsible for the synthesis of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a toxin associated with skin and soft tissue infections and that carries the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IV. CA-MRSA emergence has caused great impact on the worldwide medical community since the presence of this pathogen in patients without risk factors represents a high risk to public health.

Diversity among satellite glial cells in dorsal root ganglia of the rat

Peripheral glial cells consist of satellite, enteric glial, and Schwann cells. In dorsal root ganglia, besides pseudo-unipolar neurons, myelinated and nonmyelinated fibers, macrophages, and fibroblasts, satellite cells also constitute the resident components. Information on satellite cells is not abundant; however, they appear to provide mechanical and metabolic support for neurons by forming an envelope surrounding their cell bodies. Although there is a heterogeneous population of neurons in the dorsal root ganglia, satellite cells have been described to be a homogeneous group of perineuronal cells. Our objective was to characterize the ultrastructure, immunohistochemistry, and histochemistry of the satellite cells of the dorsal root ganglia of 17 adult 3-4-month-old Wistar rats of both genders. Ultrastructurally, the nuclei of some satellite cells are heterochromatic, whereas others are euchromatic, which may result from different amounts of nuclear activity. We observed positive immunoreactivity for S-100 and vimentin in the cytoplasm of satellite cells. The intensity of S-100 protein varied according to the size of the enveloped neuron. We also noted that vimentin expression assumed a ring-like pattern and was preferentially located in the cytoplasm around the areas stained for S-100. In addition, we observed nitric oxide synthase-positive small-sized neurons and negative large-sized neurons equal to that described in the literature. Satellite cells were also positive for NADPH-diaphorase, particularly those associated with small-sized neurons. We conclude that all satellite cells are not identical as previously thought because they have different patterns of glial marker expression and these differences may be correlated with the size and function of the neuron they envelope.

Lycopene and ß-carotene protect in vivo iron-induced oxidative stress damage in rat prostate

It has been suggested that iron overload may be carcinogenic. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of plasma and prostate carotenoid concentration on oxidative DNA damage in 12-week-old Wistar rats treated with intraperitoneal (ip) ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) (10 mg Fe/kg). Plasma ß-carotene and lycopene concentrations were measured as a function of time after ip injection of carotenoids (10 mg kg-1 day-1 ß-carotene or lycopene) in rats. The highest total plasma concentration was reached 3 and 6 h after ip injection of lycopene or ß-carotene, respectively. After 5 days of carotenoid treatment, lycopene and ß-carotene were present in the 0.10-0.51 nmol/g wet tissue range in the prostate. Using a sensitive method to detected 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) by HPLC/EC, the level of 8-oxodGuo in rat prostate DNA was significantly higher (6.3 ± 0.6 residues/10(6) dGuo) 3 h after Fe-NTA injection compared with control rats (1.7 ± 0.3 residues/10(6) dGuo). Rats supplemented with lycopene or ß-carotene for 5 days prior to Fe-NTA treatment showed a reduction of about 70 percent in 8-oxodGuo levels to almost control levels. Compared with control rats, the prostate of Fe-NTA-treated animals showed a 78 percent increase in malondialdehyde accumulation. Lycopene or ß-carotene pre-treatment almost completely prevented lipid damage. Epidemiological studies have suggested a lower risk of prostate cancer in men reporting a higher consumption of tomato products. However, before associating this effect with tomato sauce constituents, more information is required. The results described here may contribute to the understanding of the protective effects of carotenoids against iron-induced oxidative stress.

Microsporum nanum. Relato do segundo caso de infeccao humana no Brasil. / Microsporum nanum. Report of the second case of infection in Brazil

E comunicado o segundo caso de infeccao humana por Microsporum nanum no Brasil. A investigacao epidemiologica visando determinar a fonte de infeccao nao obteve sucesso. O padrao dermatologico das lesoes foi o de Tinea corporis classica

A standard procedure for correcting lateral displacements of the maximal atd angle by means of the ulnarity index.

Empregando o indice de ulnaridade (Saldanha, 1968) e o angulo atd maximo, determinamos funcoes lineares que possibilitam a correcao de desvios laterais do trirradio axial palmar t.Essa correcao, obtida atraves do uso da tecnica de regressao multipla,e perfeitamente equivalente a proposta por David (1971).O metodo aqui apresentado tem a vantagem de nao incluir, em sua formulacao, funcoes transcedentais de manipulacao complicada

Aspectos epidemiologicos da paracoccidioidomicose na area endemica de Botucatu (Sao Paulo - Brasil). / Epidemiological aspects of paracoccidioidomycosis in the endemic area of Botucatu (Sao Paulo - Brazil)

Estudamos o perfil epidemiologico de 176 pacientes portadores de paracoccidioidomicose atendidos no Hospital das Clinicas de Botucatu, tendo sido delimitada a area endemica correspondente e investigadas as caracteristicas de seu ecosistema. Como controle, utilizou-se grupo de 29063 pacientes com outras afeccoes, atendidos no mesmo Hospital, durante o mesmo periodo.Observou-se: 1) A relacao de pacientes masculino/feminino foi de 10,7/1; 2) 54% dos pacientes tinham entre 35 e 54 anos; 3) A frequencia de individuos pardos com paracoccidioidomicose (9,7%) foi maior quando comparada com a do grupo controle (2,7%); 4) Lavradores e pedreiros forneceram o principal grupo profissional entre os doentes com paracoccidioidomicose; 5) 80% dos pacientes originaram-se da regiao centro-sudoeste do Estado de Sao Paulo, especialmente de Botucatu, Sao Manuel e Avare (area endemica de Botucatu); 6) Esta area endemica localiza-se entre os 22 graus01' e 23 graus37' de latitude sul, possuindo temperatura anual entre 18 a 24 graus C; pluviosidade anual entre 1187 a 1463 mm; altitude entre 400 a 873 m; solos acidos e predominantemente pobre